San Francisco Metro Area Pay Trends

Updated January 13, 2015

While innovative companies like Apple and Google get press in the Bay, tourism is the primary contributor to San Francisco’s economy, mainly due to the city’s favored place in pop culture. Pier 39 near the Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most popular tourist spots in the nation. In addition, the financial industry is also active thanks to big players like the Wells Fargo corporate headquarters and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

The PayScale Index tracks quarterly changes in total cash compensation for full-time, private industry employees in the United States. In addition to a national index, it includes separate indices for specific industries, metropolitan areas, job categories, and company sizes. The PayScale Index uses 2006 average total cash compensation as a baseline.